Kick the stick

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Anbumani Ramadoss, is bound to be a happier man starting today, what with the stringent ban on smoking
in public places coming into effect.

The country's puffers are up in arms with him though, raising a hue
and cry, spluttering indignant protests against the ban, gathering for
community smoke sessions, twirling smoke from their fingers, venting
their angst at anyone who proffers a sympathetic ear.

Ramadoss though is intractable.

After all, though the No-smoking-in-public-places ban-Act was brought
out by the Center over three years, it remained just a piece of paper.

And now, the Act is back with a vengeance.

Extending itself to even those who swear by their preferred brand of
chimneys at the place they call home for 8 hours on weekdays – the
workplace.

Even those Organizations that have designated smoking zones are not to
entertain employees with ciggies. Penalties have been raised – from a
paltry Rs 200 to a sizeable Rs 1000 on violators.

Next are the proposed pictorial warnings on all tobacco products, due
to come into effect from December 01, 2008. So, there are orders in
place for graphic warnings on cigarette packets, which the Center
hopes will dissuade smokers or those who are keen to try out that one
addictive drag.

Non-smokers on the other hand, are a relieved lot - no longer will
they be passive smokers, or have to hear smokers' dry coughs, which
some say, sound like a mix between bleating goats and old, crotchety,
senile men.

It's not all that bad though - those who had been planning to 'kick the nicotine stick' feel this is the right time to do so. Some of their partners are even going so far as terming it Providential Intervention, in the guise of a national embargo.

A random glance at the busy Connaught Place today saw people looking furtively at their surroundings before taking a long drag on the taboo stick in hand, before hastily throwing it aside at the sight of the approaching 'thhulla' (policeman).


While there are two clear divisions over the proposed Act which is to
be implemented today, it remains to be seen if it proves to be a
success, or gets 'stubbed' out as it was, three years ago…